1. (1) The Cabinet for Health and Family Services shall make application to the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services to establish a Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program in accordance with 42 U.S.C. sec. 1395i-4, as amended by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Pub. L. 105-33.

2. (2) The cabinet shall develop and submit as part of its application a rural health plan that:

   1. (a) Provides for the creation of one (1) or more rural health networks;
   2. (b) Promotes regionalization of rural health services in the state;
   3. (c) Improves access to hospital and other health services for rural residents of the state; and
   4. (d) Designates rural hospitals as critical access hospitals.
3. (3) The secretary shall designate as a critical access hospital any facility which complies with the provisions of KRS 216.380.

Effective: June 20, 2005

History: Amended 2005 Ky. Acts ch. 99, sec. 481, effective June 20, 2005. -- Created 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 559, sec. 2, effective July 15, 1998.